Caching in Savannah 3/8/2010

Well we headed into Savannah this morning to do some of the great caches in the historic section. We only found 4 caches but 3 of those were GREAT multi-caches that took us all over the historic section. Savannah was started in 1733 and has quite a bit of interesting history to it. The colony of Georgia originally was to be established for three reasons. First, it was to be a colony to aid the poor in England. Secondly, it was to increase imperial trade and strengthen the Colonies. Thirdly, it was to provide protection for Carolina from the Spanish in Florida. Not all of the reasons were carried out, but they encouraged families to come assist in the founding of Georgia. Savannah was founded on February 12, 1733, by James Oglethorpe. The city was laid out according to a plan that Oglethorpe designed. This plan had alleys, streets, and squares which gave the city a distinctive look that was different from other American cities. From the beginning, the colony's development was assisted by the Yamacraw Indians, who had a friendly relationship with the settlers. As Georgia grew, Savannah lost its political importance as the colonial capitol, but gained importance as a port city. In both Georgia's past and present, Savannah has been Georgia's main port. During the colonial times, the port was used to export goods such as rice and cotton. Cotton was Georgia's king crop. The port was also used to import goods. Georgia's first banking center was located in Savannah. Several other banks opened in Savannah, including the Central Railroad Banking Company which was established with the Central of Georgia Railroad, Georgia's first railroad. William Gordon, father of Juliette Gordon Low was instrumental in developing the railroad. This railroad was built in 1843 and originally went to Macon. It was later expanded to Atlanta. This railroad allowed the amount of exports to increase, especially cotton. Savannah is home to many churches. Besides the first church, Christ Episcopal Church, there is the First African Baptist Church, which was the first Negro Baptist congregation in the United States. Since religion was important to the people of Savannah, many other churches were constructed for the many different denominations. The city has had several catastrophes. In 1820, there were two major ones - the yellow fever epidemic and a terrible fire. In January a fire burned approximately 463 buildings. In April, just after the fire, a yellow fever epidemic occurred. By this time, about 6000 of the 7528 people in Savannah had evacuated the city. At the end of the year, when most of the yellow fever was gone, the fire and fever death tolls were up to 695. The burned portion of the city was rebuilt by 1825.


OK enough history of Savannah, now on to our first cache which was located in The Colonial Park Cemetery. The Colonial Park Cemetery is located in downtown Savannah, at the intersection of Abercorn Street and Oglethorpe Avenue. The cemetery is also known as The Old Cemetery and The Brick Cemetery. The Colonial Park Cemetery is the second cemetery in Savannah. It was founded in 1750 and was closed for burials in 1853. It was then reopened as a park in 1896.
Many famous Revolutionary War heroes are buried in Colonial Park Cemetery. Button Gwinnett was buried in the cemetery in 1777. He is one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was also the acting governor of Georgia during the Revolutionary War. He was not on good terms with General Lachlan McIntosh, the leader of the Continental troops in Georgia. Gwinnett challenged Mclntosh to a duel. Gwinnett died three days later of a leg wound suffered in the duel. General Lachlan McIntosh died in1806 and was also buried in Colonial Park Cemetery.
The remains of Major General Nathanael Greene were laid in the Graham vault until they were reburied at Johnson Square in 1901. There were also many ordinary civilians buried in Colonial Park Cemetery. Over 700 citizens died during the Great Yellow Fever epidemic of 1820. They were all buried in Colonial Park Cemetery. Even though there are only about 600 burial markers still standing in the cemetery, over 10,000 bodies are buried there.
During the Civil War, Union troops were stationed at the cemetery because it was ideal for horses. The troops often searched for valuables among the graves. Since most of the soldiers were mischievous, they switched a number of dates on some of the tombstones. If the tampered dates are correct, then the oldest person buried there lived to be 1700!
This place has many colorful stories to tell. It is the home of several hauntings. During the Civil War, when Sherman's troops made their encampment inside the cemetery. They used the headstones for target practice, destroying many. They also defaced several markers, changing the dates or the letters on the stones. Also when General Sherman's troops were occupying the cemetery, they broke off or removed many of the tombstones to make room for their tents. See if you can spot some of this early graffitti.
The people resting here all played a part in making Savannah what it is today, a vibrant, historic, cosmopolitan city, beautiful and proud, a true treasure!
There have been several hauntings here also. One is a couple who was seen floating/walking in the graveyard after it was closed. The couple was decapitated and was missing their arms from the elbow down.
Enough history on the cemetery so on to the cache. The cache itself was called Duelers Cache and as the title indicates had to do with some of the duellers that had died duelling and were buried in the cemetery. First stop was probably the most famous person in residence here. His name is Button Gwinnett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Indepenence. He died in a duel with General Lachlan McIntosh. He was shot in the leg and suffered for three days before dying. Mr McIntosh is also buried in Colonial Park.
Next stop we paid a visit to Mrs Grace Belcher. Her headstone is made of slate and has stood the test of time well. She died in the late 1700's at the age of 45. Her 4 year old son died only five weeks later. Things were indeed tough back then.
On we went to the next area called "the wall." This is where all the markers go that nobody knows where their proper location is. There are about 200 markers that have been broken, torn up or just plain vandalized. They are standing against, cemented to or affixed in other ways to this wall (see picture). The wall used to go around the entire cemetery, but this is all that is left. The rest of it having been torn down over a century ago.
Now on to the Rev Jean Baptiste LeMoine family vault.The good reverend is not actually in there, but rests a little south of here in the "catholic sector" of Colonial Park. Rev LeMoine was a refugee from the Revolution in France. Formerly Cure of Morley Le Roi and was the first Catholic priest in Savannah and died in 1794.
Then it was on to the Duellist's Grave. Lieutenant James Wilde died defending his honor in a duel with Captain Roswell P. Johnson on January 16, 1815 on the Carolina side of the river near Savannah. Wilde was shot through the heart in a fourth exchange of fire by Johnson, referred to in the epitaph, in bitterness, "as a man who a short time before would have been friendless except for him". The duellists were officiers in the 8th Regiment U. S. Infantry. The nature of their quarrel is unknown.
Then it was on to the location of the final cache which was the old duelling grounds. It is a long skinny piece of land and is now a playground for children. Duelling was legal, but you had to buy a permit and conduct your business only here. How convenient to put it next to the cemetery. Duelling lasted from 1740 to 1877! This was a GREAT cache and we enjoyed doing it very much and learned a little bit of some of Savannah's history.

Next was another 3 step multi cache. Our first stop was the The Marshall House Hotel. In 1851, businesswoman Mary Marshall, noting that Savannah was woefully in need of visitor accommodations, built the four-story Marshall House Hotel. It served as a hospital for soldiers toward the end of the Civil War. It was also home to Joel Chandler Harris, author of the famous Uncle Remus stories. The Marshall House was named as a National Historic Building on April 1, 2000. The Hotel has its original staircases (some of the spindles and gingerbread have been recreated), original wood floors, fireplaces, brick walls, and the doors to each guest room are original as well. The Atrium was the courtyard and has been encased with a glass ceiling to give the sensation of what once was. The artifacts displayed on floors two and three were found during the renovation.
Then it was on to The Green-Meldrim Mansion which was once the site of General Sherman's Headquarters from Dec. 22, 1864-Feb. 1, 1865. The house is notable as one of the country's finest examples of residential Gothic Revival architecture. Cost of the construction of the house in the 1850's was $93,000. In 1892 it was acquired as a residence for Peter W. Meldrim, noted GA jurist and President of the American Bar Assoc. St. John's Episcopal Church acquired the house from the Meldrim heirs for use as a parish house and rectory.
Next stop was one of the many cemeteries in Savannah where many of the Union and Confederate soldiers are buried. We had to find a statue with the following inscription on it: Silence is golden. These soldiers from the other side are buried near me. We have become great friends over the years. I really wish that the four of us could have been buried next to them, as we were all Americans. Yes, time did pass and the wounds of our nation healed.
Then it was on to the final cache site where there was no actual cache to find but we needed to get a name. The man's name is Andrew J. Schoonover and he was a Private in Company G of the 4th Iowa Infantry and following is his story.
I was born in Ohio on March 25, 1828. While I was still a child, my family moved to Iowa. In 1848 I married Jane Franks and we had 9 children between 1849 and 1865. I never saw my last child, a girl, as I was drafted in September of 1864 to serve in Lincoln’s army. They sent a group of us to Kentucky for training and then by rail to Vining’s Station, Georgia to join Gen. Sherman.
The Battle of Atlanta was over and the army was preparing to march to Savannah. With little rations and equipment I walked, along with 62,000 other Union soldiers, to Savannah. This army seemed destined for success. “We were ready for a meal or a fight, and don’t seem to care which it is”, said one soldier.
I fought at the battles of Griswoldsville, Ogeechee River, and the Siege of Savannah. In December our regiment entered the beautiful city of Savannah. I spent Christmas day with a group of friends from our small farming community in Iowa. We all wanted to go home.
In January our troops departed to invade South Carolina. They left me in Savannah with several others who had become sick and too weak to travel. We were placed in a field hospital that was, until Sherman arrived, a hotel. I was soon diagnosed with typhoid fever and died on February 24, 1865. My family was notified of my death, but they had no money after the war to have me sent home for burial. I was buried in the “Citizen’s Cemetery”, as it was called in the 1800s, next to three of my comrades.
When the Union Army came back to Georgia in 1867 to remove the bodies of all deceased Union soldiers buried in southeast Georgia to the National Cemetery at Beaufort, South Carolina, somehow we were missed. My grave was soon “lost in time.” In 1999, my descendants, who were still living in Iowa, for the purpose of locating my grave, contacted a researcher in Georgia. On December 26, 1999, he located me and notified my family. What a great Christmas present for all of us! Don’t feel sorry for me. In 1909 my wife joined me in heaven and we watched, from far away, our children and their children grow old. Cache title was A Tragedy of War.......how true.

Next cache was also a multi but a short one part one. It had to do with a plaque denoting The Washington Fire Co. and was located in Washington Square.....who would have ever figured. The monument reads Located at this site, the volunteer Washington Fire Company No.9, provided fire protection to Washington and adjacent wards for 24 years. The top of a cistern visible 20 feet north served as a water reservoir for the fire apparatus. The men of the Washington fire company were memorialized by the placement of this cornerstone at Fire Station No. 1 which was built at 522 East Broughton Street in 1878. This was Savannah's first Municipal Fire Station which was demolished in 1962. Dedicated to The Brave Fireman of Fire Station No.1 Who also served as mentors and role models for the youth of the "Old Fort" section of Savannah. All we had to do is figure out the coords for the final cache location which was also in the square.

After we found the cache we headed back toward the coach and stopped to do one maore cache along the way. Then it was back to the campgrounds and lunch, logs, showers, dinner, TV and beddy bye time. Well until next time after a tiring day we love and miss you all. Mom & Dad Dori & Dick